Educational device.



R. M. VIGK.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

APPLIGATION HLED JAN. 5, 1909.

Patente@ Nov. M 1909.

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ROLLO IVI. VICK, OF ALLXANCE, OHIO.

EDUCATINAL DEVICE.

To @ZZ who/m it muy concern:

Be it known that ROLLO M. Visit, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a Anew and useful Educational Device, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in devices to be used in acquiring skill in the operation of key-actuated machines and is especially adapted to the teaching ot' the touch method in the art of typevriting; and the objects ot my improvement are to produce a device of the character indicated which may be cheaply constructed as well as etlicient, thoroughly satisfactory, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. These objects, together with other objects and advantages of my device, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the construction by which l attain these objects and advantages is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the device. F ig. 2 is a sectional view taken upon a transverse vertical plane. Fig. 3 is a view of a. portion of one of the key bars, together with the letter bars and one of the letter plates. F ig. 4 is a perspective view showing the letter plate attached to the letterl bar. F ig. 5 is a detached view ot a portion ot the end of the spacing bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rubber buiier used upon the spacing bar. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view illustrating the pivotal support for the keyI bars.

Throughout the several views similar numerals ot' reference indicate similar parts.

In the drawing is illustrated that form ot the device to be used tor teaching the art of typewriting.

The numeral l indicates a base portion and the numeral 2 the upper portion of the casing. rlhe base portion and upper portion are preferably of a form identical with or similar to that shown in the drawing, the said portions being so formed as to simulate a typewriter of the usual construction.

Arranged in front of the casing in exact imitation of the arrangement of the various keys of a typewriter is a series of keys as illustrated in the figures. The relative position of each of the letter keys and the position of the spacing key is carefully ar- Speceaton of Letters Patent.

Application led January 5, 1909.

Patented Nov. 16, i909.

Serial No. 470,833.

ranged in exactconformity with the ar rangement ot the typewriter key, board. rthe spacing key| 3 in rig. l is broken away to illustrate the method of attachment oit said spacing key to the spacing bar et. @ne ot said bars is provided ateach end of the spacing key and said bars are pivotally attached to their respective ends of the base portion l by means ot the rivet or other pivotal device 5. it the tree ends ot the spacing bars portions are cut away at the point lo, providing a suitable term or shape or the end of the spacing bar to retain the butter T. This butter is formed of a piece of rubber, preferably of the shape illustrated in F ig. G, which is slipped over the end of the spacing bar and into engagement with the notched portion at the point 6. lt will be understood that when the spacing key 3 is pressed downward the tree end or the spacing bars will be caused to rise and the buli'er 7 will strike the top of the base ot' the casing, thus providing a means of producing a cushioned blow of the spacing levers against said casing.

The various keys, 8, are attached to their respective key bars 9 by any suitable inechanical means. l have illustrated the key bars 9 as being provided with an integral screw threaded portion l() and the keys 8 with corresponding screw threaded apertures, thus providing means for screwing the said keys into place upon the key bars. The key bars 9 are preferably of the form shown, provided with a right angled portion ll to which the keys are attached and the flattened main portion extending in a hori* zontal direction within the casing. The i'ront of the upper portion ot' the casing is provided with a series of appropriately arranged slots, l2, through which the key bars vextend and which limit the key bars in their movements upon their pivotal connections. Running longitudinally from end to end of the upper casing 2 are horizontally disposed bearing rods 13. These bearing rods are round, and suitable round apertures are arranged in the key bars. It'he key bars are disposed in proper series along the rods 13 with spacing sleeves, le, upon the rods 13 between them, the appropriate pivotal attachment and spaced relation of the key bars being thus provided and maintained.

At the end of each key bar inside the casing is arranged a round aperture, and within said aperture is located the yoke portion 15 of one of the letter bars, pivotal connection being thus provided between the key bars and the letter bars. The letter bars are preferably of the form shown in the dravving and consist of pieces of Wire provided With parallel adjacent portions 16 and the integral yoke portion 15 before mentioned. At the upper end of the parallel portions the bars are provided With beveled ends, as illustrated in the drawing, said ends being adapted to engage the flanges 17 of the letter plates 18. Each let-ter plate is provided with integral spaced lugs 19 at its bottom edge, said lugs being adapted to be bent slightly over and toward each other for the purpose of gripping the portion 16 of the letter bar. Each letter bar extends through an appropriate aperture in the top ot' the casing 2, said letter bars being so arranged as to move freely up and down Within said apertures and the said letter plates being attached at the ends of the letter bars above the to-p of the casing, as illustra ted. The shield 20 is provided on the top o1"i the casing and in front ot' the letter plates to conceal the said letter plates from the operator except When the keys are pressed. Each of the keys is entirely blank, no letters appearing upon the same, but each of the letter plates is provided With an easily read letter or symbol to correspond with the letter or symbol of its appropriate key, in accordance With the arrangement of a typesvriter key board.

A device of the character described having been provided, the operation of the same is as follows. The operator assumes the same position with respect to the device as he would assume in the operation of a type Writer. By pressing the various keys downward the key bars may be moved upon their pivotal connections and the corresponding letter plates Will thus be lifted above the shield 20, Where they may be read by the operator. In Fig. 1, one of the blank keys is shown depressed and the corresponding letter plate C is illustrated as lifted above the shield 20. By practicing upon the device herein described the operator Will readily acquire a knowledge of the exact location or' the various keys corresponding to the letters desired and it Will be seen that an extremely practical device is thus provided or the teaching of the touch method in typevvriting or in the art of op' erating similar key-actuated mechanisms.

. 1 claim:

l. 1n an educational device for acquiring skill on a key board, a casing, horizontally disposed key bars pivotally mounted in said casing, vertically disposed letter bars pivotally connected to said key bars, letter plates attached to said letter bars, a shield for normally concealing said letter plates, blank keys attached to said key bars, the arrangement ol" said keys being identical with the arrangement oit' the keys on the key board on which skill is to be acquired, and the arrangement of said letter plates With reference to said keys being such that When the various keys are depressed the appropriate corresponding letter plates Will be raised above said shield. A

2. 1n a device of the character described, a casing, a series of key bars, a series of blank keys, letter bars, letter plates, and a shield, the key bars pivotally mounted in the casing, the blank keys attached to one end of the various key bars, the letter bars pivotally connected to the opposite ends of trie key bars, the letter plates attached to the said letter bars, and the said shield adapted to normally l conceal said letter plates.

1n testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence otl two Witnesses.

ROLLO M. VICK.

wWitnesses T. H. ARMSTRONG, LENA C. BUnI-ILER. 

